Friday, June 23, 2017

13 RIDICULOUS demands Saudi gives to Qatar in aggressive ultimatum

Saudi Arabia's ultimatum is the work of a power-mad, childish nation
that does not understand the meaning or function of international
relations.

Saudi Arabia has passed an ultimatum to neutral Gulf Cooperation Council
member state Kuwait to be handed to the Qatari regime in an attempt to
end the current crisis wherein Saudi Arabia has led a total boycott of
Qatar along with the UAE, Egypt Bahrain, Libya’s House of
Representatives, Yemen’s Hadi government and the Republic of Maldives.

Far from ending the crisis, this ultimatum will only prolong
the disputes as the demands issued by Saudi are that of a victor to a
vanquished foe in a war. In some cases the demands are even harsher than
certain terms of peace after a military conflict. Put another way, it
is unabashed colonialism.

The payment of reparations/compensation to Saudi, Egypt,
Bahrain and the UAE due to the “victims and loses” which have resulted
from Qatar’s policies. The final sum is not specified.

Clearly the Saudis have not studied the history of Europe
after the First World War where war reparations and a guilt clause
forced on Germany played some part in fomenting the rise of fascism in
Germany.

If anything, Saudi’s policies have created more “victims and
loses” than those of Qatar. Again this is the pot calling the kettle
black and using the widely discredited aggressive demand for reparations
as part of a cynical ultimatum.

2. Don’t Have Good Relations With Iran

Qatar’s apparently warming relationship with Iran is one of
the proximate causes of the Saudi led boycott of Doha. Many suspect that
given the fact that Qatar’s ambition to build a gas pipeline to Turkey
running through Syria is now dead in the water, that Qatar which shares
the same natural gas field with Iran, may be working to supply gas to
Turkey via Iran.

Saudi which has accused Qatar of meddling in other countries
(a true allegation) is now meddling in Qatar’s internal affairs,
telling Doha that it cannot develop good relations with Iran.

This is not only ridiculous but it goes against the principles of state sovereignty as defined by international law.

3. Kick Turkey Out

In yet another violation of the principles of international
sovereignty, Saudi has demanded that Qatar kick out recently arrived
Turkish troops. Saudi also demands that Qatar cease cooperating with
Turkey militarily.

This is Qatar and Turkey’s right to cooperate if they want to. No foreign state has the right to dictate otherwise.

4. Shut Down Al Jazeera

Saudi has already taken state-run Qatari broadcaster Al
Jazeera off air in Saudi and kicked out their staff from the country,
but now Riyadh wants the broadcaster to go off air entirely–worldwide.

This is colonialism, nothing more.

5. Terrorism

Saudi demands that Qatar renounce and cut ties with
terrorist groups including ISIS, Al-Qaeda/al-Nusra (both of which Saudi
funds) as well as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah is not considered a terrorist group by most of the
world, including in Lebanon where Hezbollah is based. Hezbollah is a
political party with democratic representation in the Lebanese
Parliament.

4. Stop Funding Terrorism

A cynical repeat of the previous demand

5. Hand Over Terrorists

Saudi demands that Qatar hands over terrorists harboured by Doah.

6. Interference In Other Nations

Saudi demands that Qatar does not interfere in the affairs of other countries.

Saudi’s entire list is one giant interference with the affairs of other nations (not just Qatar but also Iran and Turkey).

This one is truly laughable.

7. Have Peaceful Relations With Gulf Neighbours

This one really boils down to “do what I say or I’ll kill you”. A very poor Hollywood action-comedy springs to mind.

8. Other Media

In addition to shutting down Al Jazeera, Qatar must shut down all other media outlets it funds and/or owns.

9. Probation

Qatar must allow Saudi to audit Qatar’s action on these
demands once every month for a year, every three months for the second
year and once a year for ten years after that.

What planet is Saudi living on?

10. Opposition Leaders

Saudi demands that Qatar hand over all records indicating their support for opposition figures in foreign countries.

11. Citizenship

Do not give citizenship to individuals wanted for crimes by Saudi, UAE, Bahrain or Egypt